Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/72098
news notes COMPILED BY JED HENEBERRY Patients who received Swedish massage or structural massage were more likely to SPORT MASSAGE APP FOR iPAD Human Kinetics has created an iPad compatible book titled Sport Massage designed to provide information and instruction on providing massage to athletes. The book is available as an app and includes more than 80 video clips and photos featuring sport massage therapist Michael McGillicuddy demonstrating sport-specific techniques he has used to help increase performance, minimize injury, and decrease recovery time for athletes competing in fencing, figure skating, tennis, and track and field. The app is available for purchase on the iTunes App Store for $19.99. Global Spa Summit Launches report that their back pain had improved. Research Portal The Global Spa Summit (GSS) recently launched SpaEvidence, its open access, evidence-based medical portal for spa and wellness therapies. The portal includes information focused on 21 therapies offered in spas, including acupressure, acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage, music therapy, reiki, shiatsu, and yoga. In addition, the GSS is returning to the United States in 2012 after three years in overseas locations, including Indonesia, Switzerland, and Turkey. The 2012 Global Spa Summit will take place in Aspen, Colorado, June 4–6. The GSS is intended to bring together "leaders and visionaries to positively impact and shape the future of the global spa and wellness industries" and has hosted delegates from more than 40 countries. GSS will also partner with the Aspen Institute—an international think tank. To learn more about both initiatives, visit www.globalspasummit.org. Study Supports Massage for Back Pain A recent study by the Group Health Research Institute in Seattle found that massage was more effective at treating low-back pain than medication. Patients who received Swedish massage or structural massage were more likely to report that their back pain had improved after receiving massage once a week for 10 weeks, and improvements were still present six months after the study. Researchers say that a next step will be to examine whether the different types of massage produced similar effective results for the same or different reasons. The study was published in the July 5 edition of the Annals of Internal Medicine and is available at www.grouphealthresearch.org. 16 massage & bodywork september/october 2011